Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 28: Several officials of the understaffed Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) from various districts of Kashmir have been attached to Mission Directorate Srinagar, affecting the functioning of the Scheme including that of Justice Juvenile Boards (JJBs) and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs).
The officials of the understaffed ICPS including JJBs, CWCs and District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) of far-flung districts of Kashmir have since last year been attached to the Directorate office in Srinagar, affecting the functioning of the ICPS in the districts.
Those among attached to the Mission Directorate Srinagar include Junaid Ahmad Legal Cum Probationary Officer (LCPO) JJB in Anantnag, Ajaz Ahmad official in the Child Protection Office district Pulwama, Shaista as Data Analyst in District Srinagar, Aqsa as Social Worker in District Office Srinagar, Fayaz Ahmad an official in DCPU District Anantnag, Shamsu Nissa as member Child Welfare Committee Kulgam, Khairu Nissa as member JJB Srinagar, Afshsan Paul, member CWC district Budgam and Najma, the sole CWC member in district Kargil.
In the meantime, Afshan Paul was yesterday given additional charge of Nodal Officer CWC in the Directorate from back date. The order issued by Social Welfare Department (No. SWD/ICPS/Camp/2019/49-51 dated 27-04-2019) reads: “In the interest of administration Afshan Paul shall hold the charge of Nodal Officer of Child Welfare Committee 20-04-2019).”
Those attached are mostly blue-eyed staffers who are supposed to work in far-flung districts of the Valley but are attached to Directorate for their convenience when the ICPS in the districts is already understaffed.
A senior official of the Department said that Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi, who till recently was the chairman of the selection-cum-oversight committee of the ICPS, had raised the objection over the issue of attaching the members of statutory JJBs and CWCs.
Instead of making the ICPS vibrant, the staff of which was appointed under several directions from the High Court, the higher ups of the Directorate are giving preference to the interests of the officials over child protection.
Last year recruitments for JJBs and CWCs in all 22 districts of the State were made to ensure that children receive attention at district levels. Children in J&K have been the worst sufferers of neglect and the purpose of the ICPS scheme is getting nullified.
ICPS is a flagship scheme for securing the rights of children, contribute towards their wellbeing and reduction of vulnerable situations for them and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children.
The Mission Director ICPS, G A Sofi was not available for the comment despite several phone calls.
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